Method for aligning flat products on a side edge and conveying device for realizing the method

Abstract

A method is provided for alignment of flat products along a side guide of a conveying device. The products are conveyed successively while resting on their flat base area. Each product is positioned at an angle relative to the conveying direction while in an essentially horizontal plane. Subsequently each product is straightened. The straightened products are pushed against a side guide to align the products along the side guide. A conveying device is also provided to carry out the method.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for alignment of products having a flat base area along a side guide of a conveying device, wherein the conveying device comprises at least one pair of end stops that move along the conveying device and are separated in a direction transverse to the conveying direction, comprising:
 conveying each product successively while resting on the flat base area; 
 positioning each product so that a front edge of the product comes to rest against one end stop of the at least one pair of end stops so that each product is disposed at an angle relative to the conveying direction while in an essentially horizontal plane; 
 subsequently straightening each product by fitting the front edge of the product against the other end stop of the at least one pair of end stops; and 
 pushing the straightened products against a side guide to align the products along the side guide. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the conveying device comprises at least two conveying elements which extend in the conveying direction and are separated from each other in a direction transverse to the conveying direction, wherein the positioning of the products at an angle includes moving the at least two conveying elements at different speeds. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising two alignment elements that move in the conveying direction, wherein each end stop of the pairs of end stops is attached to a respective one of the alignment elements, and further comprising moving the end stops via the alignment elements in the conveying direction. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claims 3 , further comprising moving the end stops at a speed that is slower than the speed of the conveying elements. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the alignment elements comprise conveying chains. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the side guide comprises an essentially vertical side belt, and the pushing includes aligning each straightened product with one side edge along the vertical belt. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the conveying device comprises at least one conveying element extending in the conveying direction essentially parallel to and at a distance from the side guide, and the method includes positioning one side edge on the at least one conveying element. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising positioning the at least one conveying element at an angle toward the side guide in a downstream region of the conveying device. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the positioning includes positioning the at least one conveying element at an angle relative to the horizontal plane toward the side guide in a downstream region of the conveying device; and the pushing includes positioning a side edge of the respective products that is remote from the side guide on the at least one conveying element. 
     
     
       10. A conveying device for side alignment of printed products with a flat base area conveyed in a conveying direction while resting on the flat base area, comprising:
 at least two conveying elements to convey products successively positioned flat on the conveying device in the conveying direction while positioned at an angle relative to the conveying direction; 
 first and second end stops separated from each other along an axis that is transverse to the conveying direction 
 first and second alignment elements movable in the conveying direction, wherein the first end stop is arranged on the first alignment element and the second end stop is arranged on the second alignment element, wherein the end stops are movable in the conveying direction via the alignment elements and the products are positioned against one of the end stops to position the products at the angle and fittable against both end stops to straighten the products again relative to the conveying direction; and 
 a side guide extending in the conveying direction to align each product on a side edge against the side guide. 
 
     
     
       11. The conveying device according to  claim 10 , wherein the conveying elements are driven at different speeds to position the products at the angle. 
     
     
       12. The conveying device according to  claim 10 , wherein the alignment elements comprise conveying chains. 
     
     
       13. The conveying device according to  claim 10 , wherein the side guide comprises an essentially vertical side belt that is movable in the conveying direction and along which the products are to be aligned. 
     
     
       14. The conveying device according to  claim 10 , wherein the conveying elements comprise belts. 
     
     
       15. The conveying device according to  claim 10 , wherein one conveying element remote from the side guide extends in the conveying direction essentially parallel to and at a distance from the side guide and is positioned at an angle relative to the horizontal plane toward the side guide in a downstream region of the conveying device.